A new high-performance variant of the Bentley Bentayga will be unveiled on 2 June, and rather than using hybrid technology, the flagship SUV is going to keep things old school with nothing but a hugely powerful V8 engine under the bonnet.
As well as emphasising the fact that this currently unnamed new model’s twin-turbo V8 engine will forgo any hybrid assistance, Bentley says it will produce more than the 626bhp in the previous W12-powered Bentayga Speed.
Not only will this be the most powerful Bentayga to date, the British marque also promises that its new flagship will be the most dynamic, most engaging and best sounding iteration yet.
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To that end, Bentley has fitted a new sports exhaust system with enormous elliptical tailpipes. Meanwhile a more extreme calibration for the car’s Sport mode with new settings for the stability control system will apparently allow drivers to drift this 2.5-tonne leather-linned colossus at “exhilarating” angles.
It’s safe to assume this new version will use a highly tuned version of the Bentayga’s existing twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8. This is a well proven powertrain that’s currently rated at a relatively modest 542bhp, even in the sportier S variant. Historically, this was to ensure a bit of performance headroom for the W12, but having laid that engine to rest last year, Bentley is now happy to crank up the V8 to well over 600bhp.
